Conference Proceedings and Papers

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Conference proceeding is a collection of academic papers published in the context of an academic conference or workshop. Conference proceedings typically contain the contributions made by researchers at the conference. They are the written record of the work that is presented to fellow researchers.

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Pattern of Abdominal injuries in Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra
(Ghana Medical Journal, 1990-09) Naaeder, S.B.
Two Hundred and thirty-four cases of abdominal trauma over the past 6 years were reviewed. There were four times as many male as female patients. The peak age incidence was in the second and third decades. Road traffic accidents were the commonest causes of blunt injures whereas stab wounds predominated penetrating injuries. The spleen and the small bowel were the most common Viscera injured. Although accidental injury ill our environments is a common cause of morbidity fatalities are few in those with abdominal trauma
A Comparative Study of Isradipine and Nifedipine in the Monotherapy of Mild to Moderate Hypertension in the Ghanaian.
(Ghana Medical Journal, 1994) Adukwei Hesse, I.F.; Addy, J.H.; Acheampong, I.W.; Wood, I.G.A.
Clinical experience with the new dihydropyridine calcium antagonist. isradipine. is reported. Isradipine was compared with nifedipine in a multicentre open. parallel group. clinical therapeutic trial involving 70 patients with mild to moderate hypertension. A four week placebo washout period was followed by a 12 week active treatment period during which patients were randomized to receive cither 2.5 mg isradipine twice daily (n = 40) or 10 mg nifedipine three times daily ( n=30). Isradipine significantly reduced sitting systolic /diastolic blood pressures from 176.7 ± 21.0/l06.7±7.0mmHg to l42.9± 15/93.1±7.7mmHg (p< 0.001) at the end of 12 weeks. Similarly. nifedipine reduced sitting systolic/diastolic blood pressures from 170.2±1 9.5/1 06.2±7.4mmHg to 139. 1±9.7/92. 1±7.8 mmHg (p< 0.001). Normalisation (diastolic<90 mmHg) rates were 67% and 60% for isradipine and nifedipine respectively while good response (diastolic fall > 10mmHg) rate was over 85% on cither drug. Heart rate did not significantly change with either treatment. Three (3) patients taking isradipine experienced headache and 7 patients taking nifedipine had drug related adverse effects (5 had headache. I insomnia and I first dose hypotension). Therapy was Withdrawn in 4 patients taking nifedipine and 1 taking isradipine. It is concluded that isradipine is comparable to nifedipine and is an effective and well-tolerated antihypertensive agent In the Ghanaian.
Women in physics in Ghana: Improvement on the horizon
(AIP Conference Proceedings, 2005-09) Andam, A.B.; Amponsah, P.E.; Kaufmann, E.E.
In Ghana, the number of women involved in physics has been rather small compared with that of men. We report a gratifying increase in the number of women studying physics in Ghana during the past 5 years. This is the positive result of various intervention strategies that have been put in place in Ghana during the past 15 years. It is estimated that the developing countries of Africa need at least 2000 scientists per 1 million in population for effective industrial development. If this critical mass of scientific personnel is to be assembled, with the relevant supporting technical personnel, no country can afford to leave 50% of the population—the half that consists of women—out of scientific, technological, and mathematics education. It is imperative that many more women study physics if the country is to move forward and have the critical mass of scientists needed for economic growth. One of the basic problems that have put women on the sidelines in the pursuit of scientific studies and careers is gender stereotyping. Gender stereotyping of school courses and careers finds expression in the expectation that certain courses like physics, mathematics, engineering, and other technical work are “boys courses” or “men’s jobs” and girls will study languages, typing, cooking, and sewing, which will lead to jobs in catering and junior-level office work. These societal expectations are projected in the school into what has been described as “the hidden curriculum.” On paper, all subjects are open to all students, but in practice there is often gender bias toward certain subjects. The result has been a categorization of careers into “men’s jobs” and “women’s jobs.” In fact, some well-meaning people have, in the past, advised that the study of science and mathematics could harm the delicate feminine frame
Determinants of Anaemia in Pregnancy in Sekyere West District, Ghana
(Ghana Medical Journal, 2005-09) Glover-Amengor, M.; Owusu, W.B.; Akanmori, B.D.
Anaemia associated with pregnancy is a serious health problem and its control requires the initial identification of the major factors responsible. Haemoglobin (Hb) levels of 205 women, aged 15 to 49 years, in the last trimester of pregnancy and residing within 4 of 6 sub-districts in Sekyere West district of the Ashanti region of Ghana, were determined. Demographic characteristics, dietary habits and other information were obtained and analysed. Blood and stool samples were tested for the presence of malaria parasites and intestinal worms respectively. The data showed that, 57.1% of pregnant women had Hb<10g/dl, the Ministry of Health cut off point for anaemia. Anaemia was more prevalent in rural compared to urban parts of the district (p=0.01). Low parity and young age were significantly associated with low Hb and high prevalence of maternal anaemia. Presence of malaria parasites in peripheral blood constituted a significant risk for low Hb (Hb = 9.2g/dL vs 9.5g/dL p=0.03). Independent of this, hookworm was even more strongly associated with low Hb (Hb = 8.3g/dL vs Hb=9.5g/dL, p=0.01). Contribu-tion of dietary intake to the prevalence of anaemia cannot be inferred from the data generated under the current study.
Contribution of Refractive Errors to Visual Impairment in Patients at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital
(Ghana Medical Journal, 2007-06) Ntim-Amponsah, C.T.
Objective: To determine the contribution of refractive error to visual impairment in visually impaired patients attending Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana. Method: This study was conducted over a period of 1 year beginning October 2002 at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Every 4th consecutive new case attending the eye clinic, aged 6 years and above was selected and interviewed using a structured questionnaire. A Snellen’s chart was used to determine the unaided visual acuity, visual acuity with spectacles where the patient was wearing one, and visual acuity with pin hole with or without spectacles. Improvement in visual acuity by 2 or more lines on the Snellen’s chart when looking through the pin hole was regarded as an indication of refractive error. Results: A total of 1,069 respondents, 594 female and 475 male were recruited into the study. One hundred and fifteen (115) patients (10.76%) were found to have impaired vision (Visual acuity worse than 6/18 to PL in the better eye). The vision of 51 of those with impaired vision improved when looking through the pin hole. Refractive error with Visual Acuity worse than 6/18 was present in 4.8% of all patients who attended the eye clinic. Refractive error was present in 44.3% of patients with visual impairment. Conclusion: Visual impairment was a common presentation and uncorrected refractive error was a major cause of visual impairment.
Lack of equal access to ICTs by women: An e-governance issue
(ACM International Conference Proceeding Series, 2008-01) Awotwi, J.E.; Owusu, G.
This paper will explore the inadequacy of women's participatory role in governance due to lack of access to ICTs in Ghana using Ghana in West Africa as a Case Study. It will point out the recognition of women's limitations through international declarations; the usual obstacles that face women in the ICT industry; examine the Ghana government's gender policies, and also offer suggestions as to how to empower women, already marginalized in society, to gain from the new age of technology. Copyright 2008 ACM.
A review on techniques applied to modelling, simulating and visualising evolution of physical landscape
(CSSim 2009 - 1st International Conference on Computational Intelligence, Modelling, and Simulation, 2009) Nti, I.K.; Sallis, P.J.; Shanamuganathan, S.
The paper considers contemporary physical landscape visualisation and simulation models that are used for impact analysis and decision making for geographical location studies. For this purpose a generic framework is presented that provides professionals with a tool to facilitate decision making. The main reasons for the framework construction are to provide a rigorous approach to the task of studying the evolution of physical landscapes, and to provide appropriate data for forecasting and scenario projections using computational simulations that reflect future changes. The framework is based on an in-depth analysis and assessment of a landscape monitored over time. On satisfactory completion of landscape models construction, the set of models developed are then used for the construction of visualisation images to represent the entire evolutionary process of the landscape. This framework includes functions through which users can generate visualisation models either with twodimensional maps and/or interactive immersive three dimensional images. © 2009 IEEE.
Observations of thermal variations in the mixed layer depth of the equatorial Atlantic
(International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS), 2009-01) Agyekum, K.A.; Wiafe, G.; Houghton, B.; Dolk, S.; Drake, T.; Vogel, A.
A set of Argo temperature data collected in the equatorial Atlantic [0° -5° N, 55° W-10° E] was used to estimate the mixed layer depth (MLD) and associated thermal variability for the period between January 2002 to April 2009. MLD climatology were estimated from 0.3° *0.3° median binned temperature profile using temperature difference criterion with a reference layer at 10m depth. At the 30m depth, 22° C cold water flows from the south onto the continental shelfs of Ghana-Cote D'Ivoire indicating the potential source of nutrient rich bottom water that nourishes the MLD and drives biological production. The MLD was shallow at the east and relatively deeper at the western end of the equatorial Atlantic. Variability within the MLD can be associated with variations in the westward flow of the warm and saline Equatorial Undercurrent. Further warming of the equatorial Atlantic has a potential of increasing the mixed layer depth and affecting upper surface ocean processes. ©2009 IEEE.
Ghana's Community Information Centers (CiCs): e-Governance success or mirage?
(ACM International Conference Proceeding Series, 2009-01) Awotwi, J.E.; Owusu, G.
Following the initial implementation of Information and Communication Technologies for development (ICT4D) projects in rural Africa, many did not yield the anticipated outcomes, and interest has been waning. People then began talking about "sustainable ICT" projects as projects which would become self-sufficient after their initial donor-led investment and set-up period. Beyond WSIS's broad objective for all nations, Ghana Government set its own specific objectives to Community Information Centres (CICs) project, to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural dwellers in the country. They are to serve as training centers where acquisition of ICT skills and knowledge are provided for underprivileged people and also to bring government services online closer to the people at the grassroots. Is it true that rural Ghana does not want to connect with the rest of the world through information centres? This analysis is based on data collected from all known public records, reports, and other materials which were researched, and where possible, persons either directly involved with the project as administrators or users were interviewed. This analysis is based on data collected from all known public records, reports, and other materials which were researched, and where possible, persons either directly involved with the project as administrators or users were interviewed. Copyright 2009 ACM.
A resource-based analysis of e-commerce in developing countries
(18th European Conference on Information Systems, ECIS 2010, 2010-01) Boateng, R.; Hinson, R.; Heeks, R.; Molla, A.; Mbarika, V.
Electronic Commerce is touted as a panacea for business growth and expansion in relation to both small and large firms irrespective of their geographical locations. Past research in the area shows that there is an acute lack of theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence to understand how developing country firms realise e-commerce benefits amidst their national constraints. This paper sets out to develop a theoretically abstracted but contextually grounded electronic commerce appropriation and use model for developing country contexts. We undertake a review of the ecommerce and strategy management literature in order to arrive at our conceptual model. We develop a resource - based view model of electronic commerce benefits that posits that developing country firms can orient resources towards the creation and sustenance of electronic commerce benefits. This conceptual framework provides good theoretical platform for empirically grounded research on electronic commerce in developing country contexts. We have opened a new stream of understanding in respect of developing country electronic commerce adoption.
Integrating geo-spatial information infrastructure into conservation and management of wetlands in Ghana
(Proceedings - 2011 2nd International Conference on Intelligent Systems, Modelling and Simulation, ISMS 2011, 2011-02) Owusu-Banahene, W.; Nti, I.K.; Sallis, P.J.
Most data infrastructure tend to focus on data access and not particularly spatial aspects of data and services especially data relating to natural resource management. This project will conceptualise and implement a geospatial information infrastructure to facilitate conservation and management of wetlands in Ghana, where a scalable, accessible and robust solution is urgently needed. Critically, rather than relying on governmental agency as a sole means of continued and current data provision, the approach will link technical advances in mobile telephone services, global positioning systems and concepts of citizen science with advanced developments in semantics and interoperability to formalise a spatial infrastructure system capable of weighing assertion and achieving authority. This paper attempts to propose the use of the following technology in developing a Ghana Wetland Information System: remote sensed imagery plus scripting and database, e-Governance frameworks and Protégé OWL for the management of semantics. © 2011 IEEE.
A case for using ICT in distance learning to empower non-traditional students in a third world nation
(2011 3rd International Congress on Engineering Education: Rethinking Engineering Education, The Way Forward, ICEED 2011, 2011-12) Ofosu, W.K.; Kwapong, O.A.
National development is a primary objective of all developing nations. For the development process to occur, the nation in question has to ensure that certain needs are met, and education ranks among the top priorities as it underpins all needs. In many third world nations, education at the tertiary level usually takes place in universities in selected urban centers and mostly for traditional students. This is viewed as inadequate and efforts are being made to extend university education to other centers with the hope of involving more people in the non-traditional sector in the education process. University of Ghana has adopted this and has extended their service to mature and non-traditional students. By employing information and communication technology (ICT), these students will be able to participate in the education process from their homes. This paper describes how Ghanaians view this technology and may use it to empower non-traditional students in their effort to improve the level of education in the country which will lead to the advantage of sustained development in the country. © 2011 IEEE.
An Exploratory Study of Physical Activity and Over-Weight in Two Senior High Schools in the Accra Metropolis
(Ghana Medical Journal, 2013-12) Nyawornota, V.K.; Aryeetey, R.; Bosomprah, S.; Aikins, M.
Background: Overweight and physical inactivity are major risk factors for non-communicable diseases. However, little evidence on physical activity, and overweight exists to support intervention in specific sub-populations including adolescents in low-income settings like Ghana. This study aimed at estimating overweight and determining the pattern and level of physical activity among senior high school students in the Accra Metropolis. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Accra Metropolis, among senior high school students, ages 15 to 19 years. Participants were selected using a two-stage cluster sampling technique. Structured questionnaire and anthropometric measurement were employed to gather information for the study. Students were considered as overweight if their Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ +1SD, and obese if BMI ≥ +2SD. Results: Out of 444 students, 17% were classified as engaging in low level physical activity, 49% in moderate activity, and 34% in high level of physical activity. Much of the activity in boys was recreational while among girls, was due to domestic chores. The prevalence of overweight was 11.7%. Overweight prevalence was higher among female students (15.6%) compared to 4.5% in males. Furthermore the risk of overweight was lower among students who engaged in high physical activity than those engaged in low activity. Overweight was independently associated with physical activity (p=0.01), sex (p=0.001) and age (p=0.01), after controlling for age sex and physical activity and diet. Conclusion: Majority of students in the study engaged in moderate to high physical activity. The prevalence of overweight was 11.7%. Physical activity was significantly related to overweight among students in the study.
Deconstructing the use and disposal of plastic bags in Tema community one township in Ghana: implications for policy discourse on plastic bags waste management
(University of Ghana, 2015-04-16) Bawakyillenuo, S.; Gyapoma, A.
Population increase coupled with rapid urbanisation and industrialisation in developing countries, come with the challenges of waste creation and management. The proper disposal and management of the different types of waste generated are indispensable to ensuring the healthiness of human beings and sound environmental media. This article investigates consumers' attitudes towards the use of plastic bags, their level of awareness of the hazards posed by the indiscriminate disposal of these plastic bags and the roles institutions play in their proper management in Tema Community One Township in Ghana. Using an eclectic approach (quantitative and qualitative instruments) supported by the Innovation Diffusion Theory, with a total sample size of one hundred (100) respondents (ninety-four (94) consumers and six (6) institutions), the paper unravelled a web of inter connectedness between plastic bags reuse and disposal practices vis-a-vis various socio-demographic factors especially, gender, education and occupations. The paper also unearthed the inadequacy of available policy instrument that directs the proper management of plastic bags waste, while technologies on recycling, reuse, reduction and recovery still remain at exploratory stages. These have implications on the environment especially, with the increasing population, urbanisation and slum development. Lessons emerging from this paper include the indispensability of composing a robust plastic bags waste management policy, a revision of the old bye-laws and the utilisation of multiple environmental instruments including, moral suasion and incentivasation in plastic bags waste management
"Taming the beast”: Theorizing the use of mobile phones amongst traders in Accra
(University of Ghana, 2015-04-17) Asante, R.K.B.
Over the years, the domestication theory has been used to explore the "taming" of the television within the household space of western nations. However, few studies have employed this theory to examine the "taming" of other technologies outside the private space of people. This paper will attempt to show the process involved in the taming of technology outside the private space of people within the Ghanaian context by examining how traders in Accra domesticate the mobile phone considering data from 374 randomly selected traders. The findings showed that the taming of the mobile phone in the public-private space of the traders is largely conditioned by the culture of their public-private space. Additionally, the taming process for the mobile phone follows a parallel- cyclical process and not the inherent unilineal process described by the domestication process.
Fiscal and monetary policy dynamism in the Sub-Saharan Africa frontier markets
(University of Ghana, 2015-04-17) Boateng, S.S.; Abbey, E.N.
This paper investigates the relationship between fiscal and monetary policies on economic growth using countries within the Sub-Saharan Africa Frontier Markets (SSAFMs). In other words, the paper explors the dynamism of fiscal and monetary policy on economy growth in the Sub-Saharan Frontier Markets (SSAFMs). A balanced panel of five countries in the SSAFMs, for a period of 28 years (1985-2012), were used for the estimation. The Granger Causality test as well as the causality testing procedure due Dumitrescu-Hurlin (D-H) was used to establish causalities. To analyze the relationship between fiscal and monetary policy measures on growth the pooled mean group (PM G) estimates and the mean group (MG) estimator results were computed. The study finds that that monetary policy (Granger) causes fiscal policy; stated differently, monetary policy has been the dominant force accommodating the challenging fiscal stance in the SSAFM. Future studies could focus on the effect of macro-prudential policies on economic growth. It is recommended that appropriate monetary policies could be used to address the vulnerabilities that may arise out of the integration of the SSAFMS into the global financial market. The main value of this paper is to empirically project the dynamism of fiscal and monetary policy on economy growth in the Sub-Saharan Frontier Markets (SSAFMs)
Breaking the cybersecurity dilemma: Balancing national security and human security in cyberspace
(University of Ghana, 2015-04-17) Otoo, C.
In today's world the ubiquity of cyberspace brings cyber-threats and the measures to counter them to the apex of the modern security dialogue. In the post-Snowden era, national approaches to cybersecurity seem to be sparking a 'digital arms race' rather than fostering more security. Hence cyberspace presents a dilemma of epic proportions which challenges the traditional notions of state-centric security within the arena of international relations. The reason for this is the supranational architecture of cyberspace which makes it difficult for states to unilaterally securitize existing and emergent cyber-threats. It would be shown that when the individual is presented as a threat actor rather than the referent object of security, cyber-insecurity arises. Since cyberspace is a confluence of the human and electromagnetic operating environments, colonized by a multiplicity of actors, the security actions of states affect both the system and the actors within it. Furthermore, the intent of securing cyberspace through its militarization and balkanization would engender anarchy within this land of binary code, along with its unintended effect of increasing tensions within the comity of nations. One of the conundrums in cyberspace is that its' use as an operational domain for surveillance and cyber-warfare increases the threat exposure of citizens, the very people the state is sworn to protect. This paper interrogates the cybersecurity dilemma and explores the utility of the application of human security to cyberspace
The African Union and the quest for peace and security in Africa: 2002-2012
(University of Ghana, 2015-04-17) Appiah, J.
A significant challenge that confronted the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) throughout its establishment was the successful management of intra-state conflicts. The OAU was criticised for its lack of intervention in these conflicts due to its Charter provision of non-interference in the internal affairs of member states. The launch of the African Union in 2002 signalled a new era in the quest for peace and security in Africa. The AU initiated important steps towards the creation of an African Peace and Security Architecture for the management and maintenance of conflicts. The AU's Constitutive Act further gives the right of intervention in the internal affairs of members to the Union. Since its establishment, the AU has lunched military and diplomatic operations in Burundi, Sudan, Somalia, Comoros, Togo, Ivory Coast, Niger, Madagascar, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Libya among others. The main objective of this study is to assess the African Union's management of the African Peace and Security Architecture since its formation to see what has been achieved via interventions and what remains problematic in the quest for peace and security in Africa. The study hypothesised that although the African Union's doctrine of non-indifference has galvanized its young institutions of peace and security into making significant strides in the conduct of peace operations on the continent, it has had very limited effect on the success of interventions. The research findings noted that whiles the AU has demonstrated commitment to address conflicts in Africa; it faces severe capacity constraints that does not auger well for the Union's future in peace and security
Financial inclusion and technical change: An empirical evidence from Ghana
(University of Ghana, 2015-04-17) Abbey, E.N.; Dzeha, G.D.; Boateng, S.S.
This paper investigates the linkage between technical change and financial inclusion in Ghana. This study employs logistic regression model using micro-data from the Global Findex Database to examine the extent of relation between technical change and financial inclusion in Ghana. The study finds that that technical change is not sufficient in activating financial inclusion. What is important for financial inclusion are such factors as; improving financial literacy, reducing cost or introduce costless account opening, boasting financial sector confidence and inspire financial institution to introduce banking products that meet the need(s) of those financially excluded. Hence the study concludes that a lot more needs to be done for such technical changes to trigger financial inclusion in Ghana since this has important macroeconomic implication for long term economic growth
The evolving social space of gender and slavery in nineteenth century Accra
(University of Ghana, 2015-04-17) Wilhelm von Hesse, H.
By the seventeenth century, Accra had emerged as an important Atlantic trading port that dealt in slaves, gold and European luxury goods. The establishment of the European trading forts; namely the Dutch Fort Crevecoeur (built 1649), the English Fort James (1673-4) and the Danish Fort Christiansburg (1660) ensured the incorporation of Accra into an Atlantic cultural and commercial orbit. Accra thus evolved a multiplicity of identities which included aspects of Euro-Atlantic cultural and commercial practices that influenced indigenous Ga notions of slavery, gender relations and the expression of social power. It is important to note that the Ga and Mulatofoi (Euro-African) women were never constrained by patriarchal structures. Women slave owners tapped into the different and often conflicting norms regulating slavery to their own benefits. Slave holding thus became an important avenue for the contestation of social power and thus shaped urbanism, gender and social cleavages in Accra. The institution of slavery continuously evolved to reflect the contested interests of ma rtsEmEi (singular: mantse; ruler of a town) principal ablempen (grandees), Mulatofoi, influential women, and at the end of the nineteenth century, the fledging British colonial regime who sought to abolish it.